Jaguars, Hugh Douglas in Serious Talks

Coveted free-agent Hugh Douglas and the Jacksonville Jaguars were negotiating a contract Saturday.

Jaguars spokesman Dan Edwards and Douglas' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said the team and the defensive end were very close to reaching an agreement.

Douglas, who had 12 1/2 sacks for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, already visited the Seahawks, Chiefs and Giants, and only became a serious candidate in Jacksonville late in the week.

Assuming Douglas passes a physical, which he should, and no late snags arise in negotiations, he would sign a multiyear deal including a reported $6 million signing bonus.

Douglas, an eight-year veteran with 73 1/2 career sacks, will give the Jaguars' defense a top-line pass rusher and some star power, two major missing components last year, especially after Tony Brackens was lost for the season with a knee injury.

In fact, Douglas' signing probably signals the end for Brackens in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are trying to get Brackens, who had major surgery last year, to accept a renegotiated contract for less money. If they release him after June 1, they could save about $5 million on next year's salary cap.

The Douglas signing would turn an active week in free agency into a huge one for the Jaguars. When they signed free-agent linebacker Mike Peterson to a $20.4 million deal Thursday, most experts thought that would be their biggest splash.

But coach Jack Del Rio expressed an interest in Douglas last month, and negotiations quickly became serious Friday.

The Jaguars also signed linebacker Keith Mitchell and receiver Donald Hayes during the week.